Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Lydden events
Looking for tapas catering in Lydden? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering for Lydden events
Tapas catering for your event in Lydden
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We cook tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for welcome-drink canapés and cocktail parties.
In a rural spot like Lydden, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Collect dietary needs
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Each dish is labelled.
Staff to serve canapés.
Drinks receptions around Lydden
Lydden is about 3 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Lydden or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We cook right across the region, from Lydden to Canterbury (11 miles away).
A picnic in Sladden Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Guests travelling by rail: Kearsney station is about 1.6 miles away. Lydden is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in CT15, we plan around your venue and timings. Whether your event is on St Marys Rise, Canterbury Road and The Close or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Lydden, we cover Coldred (1 mile north), Ewell Minnis (1 mile south-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile south-east), Halfway Street (1 mile north-west) and Wolverton (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (11 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles south-east), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (14 miles north-east), Deal (8 miles north-east) and Herne Bay (15 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Dover Transport Museum (2.3 miles south-east) and Dover Castle (4.3 miles south-east). Not far away are Dover Western Heights.
- Pubs nearby include Hope Inn (within half a mile west)
Why choose live paella in Lydden?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
What else we do in Lydden
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. Evening receptions in Lydden stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Lydden questions
Is Lydden close to London?
Roughly 62 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What’s the nearest station to Lydden for guests?
Kearsney station, about 1.6 miles south-east of the centre.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many courses
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A spot for our serving station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff